Frederick County Court Docket
Frederick County court docket records are maintained by Circuit Court Clerk Sandra K. Dalton in Frederick and are available online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This page covers how to search the docket, what the Circuit and District Courts at 100 West Patrick Street handle, how to obtain copies of records, and what help is available for Frederick County residents navigating the court system.
Frederick County Court Docket Overview
Frederick County Circuit Court
The Circuit Court for Frederick County sits at 100 West Patrick Street in Frederick. Clerk Sandra K. Dalton has held the position since 1998, making her one of Maryland's longest-serving circuit court clerks. The Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases, civil disputes over $30,000, all family law matters including divorce, custody, support, alimony, domestic violence proceedings, guardianship, juvenile cases, and appeals from the District Court. Main clerk number: 301-600-1976. Clerk direct: 301-600-1906. Toll-free: 800-341-8797. TTY: Maryland Relay 711. Fax: 301-600-2245.
Chief Deputy Gloria Lewis is reachable at 301-600-1908. Frederick County is part of the 6th Judicial Circuit with Montgomery County. The two-county circuit means judges may rotate between Frederick and Montgomery, but each county's records remain separate. For any case filed in Frederick County, the West Patrick Street courthouse is the right location.
The clerk's office in Frederick has individual department phone lines for different case types. Criminal and traffic matters: 301-600-1973. Civil: 301-600-2969. Family cases: 301-600-1977. Juvenile: 301-600-1968. Child support: 301-600-1927. Land Record Room: 301-600-1957 (separate hours: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM). Jury information: 301-600-1979. Recording, Business Licenses, and Marriage Licenses share a line at 301-600-1965.
Court staff also includes Circuit Administrator Judy Lohman at 301-600-1843, ADR and Case Management Coordinator Erin Hahn at 301-600-1467, and Drug Court Coordinator D. Paul Wolford at 301-600-2978. If you have a complex or specialized matter, these contacts can help direct you to the right part of the courthouse.
The Maryland Courts clerk page for Frederick County lists contact information, department lines, and services provided by Clerk Sandra K. Dalton's office at 100 West Patrick Street.
This is the official Maryland Courts clerk page for Frederick County with current department contacts and service details.
| Address | 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | 301-600-1976 |
| Clerk Direct | 301-600-1906 |
| Chief Deputy | 301-600-1908 (Gloria Lewis) |
| Toll-Free | 800-341-8797 |
| Fax | 301-600-2245 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Judicial Circuit | 6th Judicial Circuit (Frederick, Montgomery) |
Frederick County District Court
The District Court for Frederick County is also at 100 West Patrick Street, sharing the same building as the Circuit Court. Phone: 301-600-2000. The District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic and motor vehicle violations, landlord-tenant disputes, civil claims under $30,000, small claims up to $5,000, and peace order petitions. No jury trials -- a judge decides all matters.
A Court Help Center operates at the lower level of the West Patrick Street building, open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This free service assists people representing themselves in court. Staff can explain court procedures, help identify the right forms, and walk you through steps for common case types. They cannot provide legal advice, but they are a valuable resource for anyone unfamiliar with court procedures. The Self-Help Law Center at Frederick County is also available at frederickcountymd.gov/8095/Self-Help-Law-Center.
Having both courts in the same building is convenient. You can check both a Circuit and District matter in one trip to West Patrick Street. That said, be clear about which clerk's window you need when you arrive -- Circuit and District Court staff are separate even in the same building.
The Frederick County clerk page on the Maryland Courts website provides detailed contact information, department phone lines, and service descriptions for both divisions in the West Patrick Street courthouse.
The clerk of court page for Frederick County lists all department contacts and explains what each division handles.
Searching the Frederick County Docket Online
Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the free tool for searching Frederick County court records. No account needed. Search by name, case number, citation number, or attorney. The system covers both Circuit and District Court cases filed in Frederick County and updates overnight. Same-day filings won't appear until the next business day.
Name searches default to exact matching. Add a percent sign (%) for partial name searches. Given Frederick County's growing population and the high volume of cases filed here, common surnames can return hundreds of results. Use the advanced search options to add a first name, restrict by date range, or filter by case type. The 500-result cap per search means narrowing your query is often necessary for common names.
The Case Search shows docket entries and case status. It does not show scanned images of actual documents. For copies of filed documents, visit the clerk's office on West Patrick Street or submit a written request. You can also view documents on-site using the public access kiosk available at the Frederick County courthouse without setting up a remote account. Remote MDEC access is available at mdcourts.gov/mdec/efilingpublic.
The 2024 Maryland law change removed certain dismissed and acquitted criminal cases from the public online docket. If you search for a name and find no result where you expected one, this change -- along with prior expungements -- may explain the absence. Older pre-digital records exist at the courthouse in paper form and are accessible by request at the clerk's office.
For more detail about what the Frederick County Circuit Court Clerk's office handles, the general information page is at frederickcountymd.gov/7448/Circuit-Court-General-Information. This county government page provides context alongside the state court system resources.
Frederick County Land Records and Marriage Records
Frederick County land records go back to 1776. They are searchable through MDLandRec.net after free registration. The Land Record Room at the West Patrick Street courthouse has separate hours: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (slightly shorter than the main clerk's office). Direct line: 301-600-1957. These records are relevant when researching property disputes, civil judgments tied to real estate, or deed history.
Marriage licenses are handled through the Recording, Business License, and Marriage License division at 301-600-1965. For non-resident marriages, the application goes through the comparable official in the applicant's home jurisdiction. Payment for non-resident licenses requires a bank-certified check or money order -- personal checks may not be accepted for this specific transaction, so it's worth calling 301-600-1965 to confirm requirements before you go. The Frederick County marriage license page is at courts.state.md.us/clerks/frederick/marriage.
For divorce verification purposes, an alternative to the Circuit Court is the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, 6550 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore MD 21215, phone 410-764-3038. This office can verify divorces that occurred after January 1, 1992, for a fee of $12 per verification. This is sometimes faster than requesting a certified copy from the county clerk when you only need a yes/no verification rather than a full certified copy of the decree.
Frederick County Case Types and Docket Scope
Circuit Court cases in Frederick County span the full range: felony criminal charges, major civil disputes, divorce proceedings, custody and support cases, domestic relations matters, protective orders, juvenile cases, guardianship petitions, and appeals. Case numbers use standard Maryland letter prefixes -- "K" for criminal, "C" for civil, "F" for family. Frederick County has one of the higher case volumes among Maryland's mid-sized counties due to its location between the Washington and Baltimore metro areas and its own substantial local population.
District Court handles the volume end of the docket: misdemeanors, traffic, motor vehicle matters, landlord-tenant disputes, small claims, peace orders, and minor civil suits. Both Circuit and District Court records appear in the same online Case Search. If you know a matter was a traffic ticket or landlord-tenant case, it almost certainly went to District Court. Felony charges always go to Circuit Court.
Probate records -- wills, estate accountings, letters testamentary -- are held by the Register of Wills for Frederick County, a separate office from the Circuit Court Clerk. The Register of Wills is in the same building at 100 West Patrick Street. Don't confuse the two offices when you arrive. The clerk handles court case files; the Register of Wills handles estate administration. Older historical records are also available through the Maryland State Archives.
Copies and Record Requests in Frederick County
Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies run $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies cost $10.00 plus $0.50 per page. In-person payment accepts cash, check, money order, or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Discover). The Land Record Room shares the same fee structure but note its earlier 4:00 PM close.
Mail requests go to the Circuit Court Clerk at 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Include the case number or party names, a description of documents needed, your return address, and a check or money order for the estimated fees. The courts directory page at courts.state.md.us/courtsdirectory/frederick confirms current addresses. For questions before mailing, call the main number 301-600-1976 or the relevant department directly.
Legal Resources in Frederick County
The Court Help Center at the lower level of 100 West Patrick Street is the most direct in-person resource for self-represented litigants in Frederick County. Open weekdays 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Frederick County Self-Help Law Center at frederickcountymd.gov/8095/Self-Help-Law-Center provides additional county-specific guidance.
The People's Law Library at peoples-law.org is a free online resource covering Maryland court procedures and forms for all case types. Maryland Legal Aid serves Frederick County residents needing free civil legal help -- intake is through mdlab.org and income guidelines apply. Court forms for all Frederick County cases are at no cost at mdcourts.gov/courtforms.
Cities in Frederick County
The city of Frederick is the county seat and has its own court docket page on this site. All Circuit and District Court filings for Frederick city and other county communities go through the West Patrick Street courthouse.
Other communities in Frederick County include Thurmont, Emmitsburg, Middletown, Brunswick, Mount Airy, and Walkersville, among others. All cases from these communities are handled at the same Frederick County courthouse.
Nearby Counties
Frederick County shares the 6th Judicial Circuit with Montgomery County. It also borders Carroll County to the east, Washington County to the west, and Howard County to the southeast. Use the links below for docket information in neighboring counties.